Shirt collar



G. A. RIPLEY March 19, 1935.

SHIRT COLLAR Filed Dec. 8, 1933 gm 0 14 601 George A. ,Q/p/ey PatentedMar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE snm'r COLLAR George A. Ripley,Dallas, Tex. Application December a, 1933, Serial No. 701,413

'1 Claims. (cm-14s) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in shirt collars.

This invention has to do with collars which are either attached to ashirt or made separate therefrom. Detached collars areheavily starchedto make them stiff, and where it is desired to stiffen an attachedcollar it is usually starched.- Starch is injurious to the fabrics ofthe collar, causing them to split and reducing their life. While adetachedcollar may be washed and ironed without losing its shape, it isdiflicult towash and iron an attached collar and maintain its shape,particularly if starch is omitted. The front edgesusually become bowedand the outer fabric is frequently wrinkled or creased. I

It has become the custom to insert stiifeners in the under side of theflap or leaf of an unstarched collar, to support the front edges inorder to give it a neat appearance. Collar pins are also used for this,purpose. However, such devices do not cure the evils incidental towashing and ironing, whereby the collar is distorted from its originalshape.

One object of the invention is to'provide a collar and a method ofproducing the same, whereby the desirable features of a so-called softcollar and a starched or' stiff collar are combined, but which are hadwithout the use of starch.

Afurther object of the invention is to build int the collar a stiffeningwhich will be permanent so long as the collar lasts, but which will notinterfere with laundering or-ironing, or in any way detract from thecomfort, wearing qualities, or appearance of said collar; but on thecontrary will add to the appearance of the collar and will prolong thelife thereof, because no auxiliary sup-. ports will be required and thebad effects of starching will be eliminated;

An important object of the invention is to inculcate within the flap orleaf of the collar :3. water-proof stiffening which will permitlaundering of the collar and which will cause it to retain its shapewhen ironed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a 45 permanentstiffening in the leaf or flap of a col-'- lar, whereby the fronts orends, sides and back may be stiffened to the same degree or extent or todifferent degrees of stiffness.

A still further object of the invention is to impregnate or coat one ormore of the lining members of the flapor leaf with awater-proofing.eom-. position, which when dry will stiffen said liningand remain in this condition during the subsequent laundering of theshirt and'collars A construction designed tq carry out the inventionwill be hereinafter described, together with other features of theinvention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing in5 which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lining of a collar leaf, ready toreceive the stiffening composition,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same, showing the firstapplication of the stiifening composition,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the reinforcing lining folded downand attached to the lining by the first application of thewater-proofing composition,

Figure 4 shows the lining laid smooth upon the drying board and thesecond coat of water-proofing composition applied thereto,

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a collar constructed inaccordance with the invention and attached to the upper portion of ashirt, a portion of the leaf of the collar being in section,

Figure 6 is a sectional view'of said collar, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a collar having a single stiffenedlining therein.

In the drawing the numeral 10 designates the fabric lining of the leafof a collar which may be made of any suitable material. This lining has.30 the general shape of the collar leaf. At each end of the collarreinforcing linings or strips 11 are secured along their upper edges toone side of ,the lining lo by a row of stitches 12. The linings 11 arespaced a substantial distance from the edges of the lining 10 and thisis particularly true of the top edge of the lining 10, as will behereinafter brought out. Howeven'the linings 11 may extend to the frontedges of the lining 10 if desired. V I 40 In applying the stiffening,the lining 10 is laid fiat, as is shown in Figure 2, and the linings 11are folded back. A liquid stiffening composition is then applied to thesurface of the lining 10 and 'also to the adjacent sides of the linings11.' This 5' composition may be applied with'a brush orin any other way.The exact ingredients of the composition are immaterial so long as theyare such as to produce a water-proof stiffening which will adhere to thefabric when dry. I have obtained very good results with what is known ascellulose cement,

It is preferable to coat the entire lining 10 from end to end, but thecoating may be omitted from the intermediate portion of'the lining whichis lo- 66 cated in the back portion of the collar. When the coating hasbeen applied, the linings 11 are folded down upon the coated surface ofthe lining 10. Suflicient pressure may be applied, either by hand 5 orotherwise, to cause the undersides of the linings 11 toadhere to thecoating. It is preferable to lay the coated lining aside for a fewminutes to give the cement an opportunity to saturate the fabric and toto set. Two minutes have been found satisfactory, but the invention isnot to be limited to this length of time. After the foregoing period, asecond application or coating is spread over the linings in suchthickness and at such points as is desired. In 15 applying the coatingsit is best not to extend it to the upper edge portion 10' of the lining10 as this portion becomes part of the edge or fold of the collar and ismore comfortable if left free from stiflening. It will be noted that thelinings 11 are stitchedbelow the top edge of the lining l0. After thecoatings are applied the lining is laid upon a fiat support 15, as isshown in Figure 4, and permitted to partially dry. It has been foundthat unless this is done the linings are likely to curl up, but bypermitting the cement to set while the linings are supported on a flatsurface wrinkling and curling will be prevented. A surface coated withparafiin has been found satisfactory, as the linings do not stickthereto. It is not desirable to apply heat or pressure during thesetting period, but the invention is not to be so limited.

- The cementitious liquid which is used will thoroughly permeate andimpregnate the linings and when set will stifienand reinforce the same.By using a cellulose or similar composition, the stillening will not bebrittle and, therefore, will permit flexing of the collar withoutbreaking or cracking said stiffening. This will permit-the collar to belaundered in the usual way without injury. Before the linings are dryand aresoft and pliable, they are placedin the collar leafand sewed inthe usual manner. This permits stitching through the coated portions ofthe linings, which would be impossible after the cement bet came dry.

It'isto be noted that the outer coverings are preferably not cemented orcausedto adhere to the linings. It is also desirable to place thelinings in the a leaf of. the collar $15 that the linings 11 will be onthe under or inner side of the flap and thus prevent the forming oflines or creases on the outside of the collar when the same is ironed. Idesire it to be distinctly understood ber of linings or coats .of cementapplied. The result sought is to incorporate in the collar, aJiningwhich is stiffenedwith a, water-proof and more or less heat-proofcomposition, whereby the peated laundering.

When the leaf of a collar is stiffenedin accordance with this inventionit will retain its shape, because the stiffened lining will extend alongthe major portion of each front edge of said leaf, as well as along thebottom edge thereof. The outer covers of the collar being stitched tothe lining, will thus be held in place'and when the collar is ironedthere will be no tendency forthe leaf to gree, but it is preferable toemploy it only to such extent as to make the collar self-supporting. Byuse of this invention the collar will always have,

. a neat and smooth appearance and pins and 76 other supporting deviceswill not be req ired to that the invention is not to be limited to thenumcollar will retain its shape and stiffness after redistort orwrinkle. The stiffening may vary in de- 1 give it such an appearance orto hold it in shape. At the same time the entire folded upper edge ofthe collar will be soft and comfortable.

The invention is not to be limited to any number of stiffened linings.Where the outer or cov- 5 ering fabric, such assilk, poplin, or cambric,is thin, then the lining l0 and the auxiliary linings 11 are moredesirable; but where the covering fabric, such as flannel, is thick,then the auxiliary linings 11 may be omitted and only the single lin- 10ing 10, as is shown in-Figure '7, is necessary. However, as many liningsas is desired may be used. One or more coatings of stiffeningcomposition may beemployed and the lining may be coated on one or bothsides. The stiffening composition may 15 be of such a character as'tomerely coat the' surface of the lining or it may be such as to impregnate the lining. 'While it is preferable not to coat the upper edgeportion 10' ofthe lining, it could be done within the scope of theinvention. It is 20 also possible to permit 'the composition to dry be-'found that a period of thirty minutes is suffi- .cient to permit thecement or composition to set and partially dry, when the lining may thenbe secured in the collar, as it is still pliable. Ho

ever, the invention is not to be limited to this par-.- ticular dryingperiod. I The description which has been given recites more or lessdetail of a particular embodiment of 40 the invention, which is setforth as new and useful; however, I desire it understoodthat theinvention is not limited to such exact details of construction, becauseit is manifest that changes and modifications may be made within thescope of is the appended-claims without departing from thespirit of theinvention.

WhatI claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is: I I

1. The method of stiflening collar leaves which consists, in applying awaterproof composition to the lining of the collar leaf to stiflen thesame, partially drying said lining on a flat surface until it issubstantially no longer sticky, and then sewing said lining in thecollar leaf while pliable before the composition has y dried.

2. The'method of stiffening collar leaves which consists, in coating thelining-with a water-proof cement to stiffen the same, partially dryingsaid lining on a flat surface until it is substantially so .no longerstickg, and then sewing said. lining in front portions of said linings,therl applyingre- .inforcing linings to the wet surfaces of the linings,then making a second application of said cement over the reinforcinglinings, then partially dryingthe linings on a flat surface to pre- '15.

linings to front ventwrinkling, then sewing said linings in a collarleaf before completely drying the same, and then drying the same. v I J5. The method ofstifl'ening collar linings which consists, in applying awater-proof cement to one of said linings, then applying reinforcing thewet surfaces of the linings, then making a second application of saidcement over the reinforcing linings, then partially drying the liningsonva flat surface to prevent wrinkling} then sewing said liningscompletely drying same.

6. The method of stiffening collar linings which consists, in stitchingreinforcing linings to the portions of the leaf lining, folding backsaid reinforcing linings, applying water-proof cement to said lining,folding said reinforcing linings down onto the cemented portions-to ceina collar leaf before the same, and then drying the ment said liningsthereto, then applying said cement to the cemented linings, thenPartially drying said lining on afiat surface to prevent wrinkling, thensewing said linings in a collar'leaf before completely drying, the same,and then drying the same.

7. The method of stiffening collar leaves which consists, in applying awater-proof stiii'ening composition to the surface of the lining of saidleaf, then allowing said lining to stand for a brief period of time topermit the coating topartially dry, then applying a second coating ofsaid composition overthe first coating, then partially drying saidlining for a period of time, then securing said llning'in the leaf ofthe collar before it is dry and while it is still pliable, and thendrying the same.

GEORGE A. RIPLEY.

